Montessori education information from a Montessori teacher and Mom. Personal art work and journal entries about my life as a busy Mom of three sons ranging in age from 7 years to 21 years.
My hope: To create a place where parenting questions can be answered and conversations as well as ideas shared.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Toddler Practical Life: CCIO

Inspired by an original idea from the lovely and talented Mama and O at Chasing Cheerios,I put together thisPractical Life activity: Toothpick dropThe basic aims of all Practical Life activities are to assist in the development of:Coordination, Concentration, Independence, Order (or CCIO that's an easy way to remember *c/o Linda Seeley Northeast Montessori Institute)All are nurtured with this one activity.

My Little One (22months) LOVED putting the colored toothpicks into the small openings of the cheese shaker. It was a pleasant sensorial experience also because of the musical tone it made when the toothpicks fell in. He completed this work again and again and was very smiley while enjoying it.I am sure this will become a daily favorite. Thanks Chasing Cheerios!~~MM

Playdough Recipe

Play Dough Recipe

2 cups flour1 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tarter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cup water

a few drops of your choice of food coloring

Heat on stove, watching it and stirring, until nice consistency, it will become very difficult to stir and clump together this is the point you can turn it out onto a floured counter.Knead. Cool and store in closed container to avoid drying out.

Children LOVE it! Parents and teachers rave!

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When I Make Silence by Jennifer Howard

my first published work

My Dream List

to hug a red wood tree

to travel

to voice a cartoon character

Pause a while, ponder a moment and then begin again.

Pen and pastel by MM

Interviews:

I was interviewedby Jean VantHul over atThe Artful Parent. And I am excited to share it with all of you. I hope you stop by to read it. The Artful Parent is one of my favorite crafty blogs. Stop by and check it out!Hugs to all,~~MM

Copyright notice:

Please feel free to use all of the ideas here for your family, friends, or school, but kindly refrain from selling any ideas or items made from tutorials for profit. I would love it if you linked to my posts, providing the appropriate credit for the content. Any other inquiries please email me at zodijen@gmail.com thank you! MM

Wise words

"The greatest challenge we all face as spiritual nurturers is to become attuned to the young child's authentic spirituality, which--unlike our own-- is still such an integrated part of life...children's exuberant spirituality is reflected in everything they do....a child shows us the extraordinary in the ordinary. Our task as spiritual nurturers becomes easier when we realized that we do not have to instill spirituality in a child, we have only to protect it from being trampled and to nourish its natural growth."-----Aline D Wolf, from Nurturing the Spirit